‘Clueless’ Star Says She Secretly Dated Beloved DWTS Alum

Elisa Donovan, known for her iconic role as Amber in the 1995 film “Clueless,” has revealed details about a secret romance she had during the height of *NSYNC’s fame with one of the band’s members who later became a “Dancing With the Stars” favorite.

The 54-year-old actress shared her story during the August 11 episode of the “Pod Meets World” podcast, opening up about a relationship that remained under the radar during one of the most intense periods of boy band mania in the late 1990s.

From Boy Band Skeptic to Secret Romance

Donovan’s relationship with Joey Fatone began when *NSYNC appeared on the “Clueless” television series, which ran from 1996 to 1999. Initially, she was far from impressed with the pop group’s arrival on set.

“The studio said ‘This is a really big deal. These guys are coming out,'” Donovan recalled, according to People. “And I was just like, ‘Right. Are you kidding me? These little boys? This, like, boy band?’ I was literally making fun of them before they got to set.”

However, her perspective completely changed once she met the five-member group, which included Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, and Lance Bass. “They’re super professional. They’re really kind. Incredibly talented,” she remembered thinking. “And I was like, ‘Oh, I’m the jerk.'”

The professional relationship quickly evolved into something more personal. “Joey and I started dating,” Donovan revealed. “That was under the radar.”

Dating Fatone during the peak of *NSYNC’s popularity meant experiencing firsthand the intense level of fan devotion surrounding the group. Donovan described how devoted fans overwhelmed her with attention when she attended concerts.

“I remember going to the show at the Staples Center or something in LA, like one of the big venues,” she shared. “I get out of the car, and I am swarmed as if I am one of the Beatles, you know? And they were just like, ‘She’s going in to see them!’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God … this is insane.'”

Music Video Appearance and Behind-the-Scenes Connections

The relationship led to Donovan appearing in *NSYNC’s 1999 music video for “Thinking of You (I Drive Myself Crazy).” In the video, she played Fatone’s love interest in a storyline where she slaps him after he kisses another girl in front of her. The couple later recreated this moment at ’90s Con in 2023, showing their continued friendship years later.

During her time with the band, Donovan also crossed paths with fellow actress Danielle Fishel, who was dating Lance Bass at the time. Fishel, who co-hosts the “Pod Meets World” podcast where Donovan shared her story, was notably absent from the music video due to her recent breakup with Bass.

“Lance had just broken up with me,” Fishel explained. However, she was still present on set during filming, which she described as “really painful.” She even brought their prom pictures to the shoot, telling Bass, “Here’s our prom pictures, are you sure you want to do this?”

Donovan noted that she was “the first girlfriend any of the bandmates had that they were ‘allowed’ to talk about publicly.” The actress recalled the group’s efforts to find places where they could hang out without being mobbed by fans, and even shared amusing memories like the band stealing a VHS copy of the movie “Clue” that she had rented.

Fatone, now 48, later transitioned into acting and television hosting, becoming a beloved contestant on “Dancing With the Stars” and appearing in films like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”